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DIANA'S POV

I have already finished brushing my teeth and cleaning myself up but Franki hasn't come back yet from the shore, and I'm getting really worried now. I didn't even look back when Sky and I headed first until we reached our hotel.

What was I thinking? We really had a good time by the rocks on the shore...

Maybe she went back to resume watching that fire dance show...or bathe herself under the moonlight while thinking of sad thoughts. She seems so emo tonight because of my brother.

Chill, D. Franki is not a baby. She's an adult woman who is more experienced than you...

With that body? Of course, she's an adult already...

Hoy brain! Gagu.

I didn't realize that I was staring at the wall for four minutes straight with my head filled with the recollection of our previous conversation.

Her dad also died when she was twelve, we are both half-Kiwis, she didn't experience falling in love with a person yet and she actually hesitated to come with David here...

I mean, I believe in tadhana (destiny), you know. What if we met for a reason?

Uhm...You and David share the same dad, Diana. So he and Franki are also soulmates? Stop overanalyzing things.

I flinch in surprise when I heard the notification sound of my phone. It's Vee. Oh, shit. My eyes grew wide when I realize that I actually have ten missed calls from her. I haven't got a hold on my phone since this afternoon because we really got busy.

Busy eyeing your brother's girl?

"Hey...You ok? Pls answer my call," goes her latest message.

I immediately type in a long reply.

"Sorry, Vee. Got so preoccupied with some evening shows, left my phone here in the hotel room. About to sleep now. Will call you tomorrow. Wuv u! 😘"

Sent.

I immediately throw my phone on the bedside desk before diving on the bed face-first against the pillow. I didn't bother to check my phone again when it notified. I'm scared to read it, scared to disappoint Vee, and scared to confirm that she is disappointed...

I really hate disappointing people. I am always used to pleasing them. I find it satisfying to make a difference in their day or even lives, satisfying to see that I can make them feel good about themselves.

Vee cares for me a lot and it feels so good to know that someone will do everything for me, and because of that, I don't want to hurt her in any way... I feel like I need to return the favor, but I again let myself get distracted with other things.

You're overthinking again, D.

Okay so back to this Aussie girl who is currently giving me a headache, David is not answering my calls and neither is Sky. Should I go to their room and tell them about Franki or should I just wait for her here?

Or maybe I should just sleep now...

She has been to a lot of countries all by herself so she definitely won't get lost in this small island.

I really have to sleep now, but my conscience is killing me. I finally turn the lights off and left the bedside lamp open so its orange-y light will somehow brighten up the dim room.

After a few more moments of contemplating and battling against my inner thoughts, I finally decide to get up and find her outside. It's better to make sure that she is safe than sorry as my brother would definitely kill me if something happens to her.

The doorknob suddenly moves just when I am about to open the door.

Shit.

I immediately jump back in bed, place the huge, white hotdog pillow beside me as protection and act like I'm sleeping under the warmth of the comforter.

The door finally opens and my racy heartbeat booms through my eardrums. Her familiar sweet scent immediately blends with the cold air from the AC and a split second later comes filling the four corners of our hotel room. I can hear her familiar sigh before closing the door. She walks around the bed, her presence becoming even stronger as I feel her coming closer towards me.

I hold my breath when I felt her looking at my direction. I try my best to control the trembling of my eyes and to relax my nerves. God, even the tip of my toes are so tensed right now.

Relax, Diana. What are you afraid of?

I am finally able to breathe properly again when I felt her walking away. I can then hear her opening her bag; some plastics moving, clothes being taken out, unfolded, slipped out from her body...

...and being dropped to the floor.

Shit na malagkit.

Is she naked right now?

I casually adjust my body on the bed and slightly change the position of my arm in the process. I want to open my eyes but I can't. I think my heart is near to exploding right now.

I can then hear her footsteps around the room and seconds after, the sound of steam fills the bathroom as she cuts the shower on.

I open my eyes and adjacent to the bed, my heart almost jumped out of my chest upon seeing her silhouette through the translucent shower curtain.

My fucking goodness. I seriously want to strangle my brother right now. I so hate him for bringing his girlfriend here and introducing us to each other.

Look at those curves...Oh my God.

I sigh and flop onto my back, feeling a little hot and uneasy southward my body. I am hugging my pillow so tight while I stare at her curvy silhouette as she rubs the soap all over her body...

I immediately shut my eyes close when she slips the shower curtain to the side unexpectedly. Wait, was it only like five minutes? Or time was just fast because I was enjoying the view?

I caught a glimpse of the small white towel around her small but sexy frame. I think she only took a half-bath. Between my trembling eyelids, I can see her walking towards the dresser. My half-opened eyes flew wide when the towel slips up her thigh as she places her leg on the chair.

I readjust myself on the bed again to get a better view, cocking my head sideways to see that shadowy angle between her legs. She takes the bottle of lotion and the squeaking sound of the opened cap just tickled a sensitive nerve of mine.

She starts rubbing the sticky, fragrant cream on her bent leg, her head bobbing up and down to the movements and here I am, getting wet at my unholy thoughts.

Is it just me or she really is moving in slow motion?

After her usual skincare, she finally puts on her baby pink sleeveless shirt and white short shorts then proceeds to scoop up her slightly curly hair into a messy ponytail. She is taking out something from her black purse and seconds later, I flinch again when she squeaks in surprise.

"Diana!"

I gasp when she suddenly dives on top of me.

"Diana! Diana....wake up!"

In my best actress persona, I lazily open my eyes and reply in my groggy voice,

"Yes?"

"A bug just crawled inside my beauty kit! It looks really scary! It's huge and black and its tummy is so tight I think it is full of blood!"

"Okay, I'll kill it for you." I calmly say with a suppressed smile while immediately getting off the bed.

"Please! Oh my gosh, this hotel room is not safe! We have to request for another room!"

Her eyebrows are now the shape of the letter U. Grabe, she looks really scared.

She is hugging my waist from the back while I start to rummage her kit. I immediately found a normal-sized beetle resting on her make-up brush. Actually, I am disgusted to touch it but I just find myself casually picking it up and throwing it out the window with her body still attached behind me.

"There, there. It's gone," I reassure her with my usual calm smile.

She sits on the bed and releases a huge sigh of relief.

"Salamat...po. (Thank you). You really are so reliable, oh my gosh."

"It's nothing, Franki." In my clueless expression, I then ask her, "What time did you come back?"

She throws her body on the other side of the bed before answering, "I was here like half an hour ago,"

"I actually waited for you. I thought you were following us." I say as I move back to my side of the bed.

"No, no. I came back to finish watching the show." Her face suddenly glows up, "Actually, there was this cutie who appeared out of nowhere and joined me. She was alone too because her friends were drinking at the other station."

"She?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, her name is Abi. She's half Lebanese. She's so pretty!" she joyously shares on propped elbows.

"Well, it's nice to know that you earned another friend." I slip the comforter up to my lips as the coldness of the AC bites on my skin harder this time.

"She asked for my number actually,"

"And you gave it to her?"

"Yeah. I think she's nice."

Her revelations caused my forehead to crease.

"But she's a stranger, Franki." Wait, did I sound jealous?

"Well, but she is maganda (beautiful)" she says with a toothy grin.

Wait, what is happening? She really looks and sounds like a fuckboy right now, and this is kind of confusing.

Come on, Diana. Franki is just nice and is appreciative of other women's beauty. Stop putting malice into it. She is straight and did you forget that she is in a relationship with your brother?

Yes, of course. Of course...

"So..."I acted like I am immensely intrigued with the cotton material of the white pillow between us. "...what did you two do then?"

"Nothing..." She then yawns before continuing, "I came back here because I feel sleepy already."

"Of course, it was a long day. We have to sleep now. Sky told me that we should be up by 7 am."

"I should get a tan tomorrow, I kinda miss the golden glow,"

"You miss Australia?"

"Not really, I'm still enjoying here,"

"You have plans of staying here?"

She cocks her head to one side and adorably pouts her lip as she thinks.

"I'm having fun so far so..." she trails off  as her eyes meaningfully meets mine.

Wow? Meaningfully? Or you're just assuming, Diana?

"I'll see..." she finishes her sentence.

"Okay," I casually responding while shifting my gaze from her to the ceiling. I don't think I can handle a staring contest with her...

She was checking something on her phone right now so I decided to close the conversation.

"Goodnight, Franki."

The sight of her fresh, makeup-free look is killing me. We should really get to sleep now before I could lose my shit. I turn away from her and inch toward the edgiest of the bed while hugging my pillow tight.

"Goodnight, Diana," she answers back, still on her phone.

There really is something with the way she says my name with that distinct accent and crispy voice of hers...

Almost half an hour had passed and I'm still wide awake, of course, and so is she as it seems. I can feel her turning and twisting on the bed, seemingly bothered.

Guess I'll be a walking zombie tomorrow...

"Diana..."

There goes her crunchy and sexy voice floating in our dim hotel room again. It is softer this time–almost a whisper and it caused my whole being to flush. I mentally count three seconds before answering her,

"Yes?"

"I can't sleep..."

I let out a nervous laugh. "Why?"

"I am used to David hugging me to sleep..."

Did she purposely use her baby voice? Because I think my small intestines have just melted.

I nervously laugh again. Did she just insinuate that she wants me to hug her?

I slowly turn to face her and before I could even say another word, the hotdog pillow has already magically disappeared and in seconds, my body stiffens when she wraps her arm around me and buries her face in the small curve of my neck.

"Franki?" I panic with my heartbeat tripling.

"Feels much better," she whispers against my skin. Her fingers are soft and warm as they press into my arm, tugging me even closer to press her softness against mine.

In the name of the Father, and of the—

"Okay..." I let out a soft chuckle and decided to just hug her back to sleep. It will be harmless. I have firm self-control and I am loyal to Veronica..

Hesitating at first, I slip my other arm under her waist and wrap the other one around to pull her into a full embrace. She feels so soft and smells so good, and nothing feels better than this.

"You're such a baby," I can't help but chuckle again as I try my best to calm myself down at this moment but deep inside, all of my organs are blushing in shame because she can definitely hear and feel the loud beating of my heartbeat right now.

She just answered me with a giggle and then followed with a soft sigh. I start to rub her arm for comfort and to calm her down to sleep. I think it's effective because a few moments later, she is now peacefully breathing into my neck. I want to check if she is already asleep but the moment I looked down, she also looked up just in time without any warning and our lips almost touched.

I gasp at her unexpected move.

"I'm also pretending to sleep..." she mumbles, her warm breath with a hint of toothpaste fanning my face.

Also? Pretending to sleep? Was she aware of―? I casually glance at the dresser top and just realized that there is actually a big mirror facing the bed.

Shit.

A warm feeling flushes through my chest as my eyes linger into her lips that just slowly formed into a shadow of a sly smile.

"Ano? (What?)"

"Nothing," she resumes her previous position but I can also feel her loud heartbeat against my skin...Or wait, is it mine? I don't know now.

Should I try? Should I make a move? Because my instincts are shouting that she is just waiting for me to make a move. This situation is not a first for me. I have encountered this exact moment with bisexual girls before.

But is Franki even bicurious? Diana, remember Veronica? Yes. You have a girlfriend. So calm your fingers down.

Let's find it out then. It's not a time to be a turtle.

Bahala na.

I tighten my arms around her and press my leg harder between hers...against her warm crotch. She did the same, and it urged me to go on. I readjust my head, my chin sliding down against her forehead, slowly but surely as I wait for her to angle her face to face mine.

And yep, she did as what I have expected.

I have been swallowing numerous times already, licking my lip in the tension, and I hope she feels the same way. I think she does.

While finally facing each other properly, my lips are now touching her cheek. Just one more move...

Come on, Franki. Move. I need your lips. Give it to me, baby.

She suddenly sighs a long, heavy one, and didn't move again. I waited for another few seconds, but her embrace just loosens and her soft breathing sounds peaceful and relaxed this time. This prompted me to open my eyes, only to notice hers are shut closed and her lips slightly parted.

Wait, is she already asleep?

"Franki?" I slightly nudge her by her shoulder but she didn't reply. She just scratches her nose and again buries her face in my neck like a sleeping baby.

This sleepyhead is kidding me, right???

Damn you for teasing me tonight, FRANCES MARGARET RUSSELL!

*****To be continued*****

A/N:

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